REVEL Big Bear
Big Bear, CA
- Marathon, Half Marathon
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
This incredibly fast and remarkably beautiful road race takes runners from the majestic mountains and pristine forests of Big Bear to the foothills of Redlands, California. Featuring a smooth downhill slope and spectacular scenery in the San Bernardino National Forest, this race will be sure to help you set your … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Nov 07):
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| H (°F) | 65 | 70 | 52 | 43 | 61 |
| L (°F) | 31 | 19 | 32 | 34 | 27 |
Find Nearby Lodging (hotel, rental, etc.):
Great Downhill Course
I was supposed to do the full marathon but a month before race day it was canceled due to mudslides from a tropical storm that destroyed the full marathon course. … MORE
I was supposed to do the full marathon but a month before race day it was canceled due to mudslides from a tropical storm that destroyed the full marathon course. They gave us the option to run another race, get a full credit towards another Revel race of our choosing, or switch to the half marathon and receive a partial credit. I decided to run the half.
The expo was held at a hotel and was small but nice. Not a whole lot of vendors, but still easy to get your race packet.
You have to get up early to catch buses that take you up the mountain to the start. The bus situation was good, but they could have had a better system to get runners on buses a little faster. The race itself was great with amazing views as you run down the mountain. Towards the end you turn a corner and can see the finish line from a mile away, which is a big boost.
I highly recommend this race.
The view from the back of the pack
This year's event was interesting. The full marathon was cancelled due to the weather conditions in which a winter storm passed through the day before. So, most of those runners … MORE
This year’s event was interesting. The full marathon was cancelled due to the weather conditions in which a winter storm passed through the day before. So, most of those runners ran the 1/2 marathon and received a credit for a future event.
All Revel Races are 1st class, this one included. Fully supported, generally plenty of porta-potties, Gu gels still available for those of us in the back.
The bus system for transport to race start was well organized and on schedule even with all of the overnight changes (due to the marathon being cancelled).
The post race event was general Revel fare, always well done.
This was my 1st event back since back surgery in June.
Despite the stress, awesome race
Second year I've run this one and really enjoy it...this year added a layer of stress though. Overnight, it snowed up the mountain causing the full marathon to be cancelled. … MORE
Second year I’ve run this one and really enjoy it…this year added a layer of stress though. Overnight, it snowed up the mountain causing the full marathon to be cancelled. This resulted in the full runners being given the opportunity to run the half. That’s great but it massively burdened the system. You need to be on the bus between 3:45 and 4:30, but now suddenly there were WAY more runners. The lines were ridiculous. Get on a bus by 4:40 and start driving…and the bus gets a flat tire. Driver doesn’t tell us what’s happening, someone finally gets off and finds out. Not clear if they’re sending a new bus…we see buses going by one and after another. Finally, get a new bus, unload, reload and start driving…only to get stopped by the police because the canyon is now closed. Convince him to let us up, all of us are freaking out and need to use the one bathroom on the bus because it’s clear we aren’t going to get up in time to do anything up there. We get to the start line at 5:55…race starts at 6. No warm up, sigh. Go against the massive crush of a crowd to dump bag in truck and try to get to start line, except the corral is too small for all the runners. People are crushed slow walking to get into the corral after the race has started. It’s a great course, downhill but not a killer. Water stations were a bit of a cluster, too many people for too few volunteers. At the finish line, it was total chaos. You had to be sure you got the right medal (there weren’t enough half medals and frankly, I only wanted the half, that’s what I run, not fulls). Went to get in the results line, which with a fast finish time is usually short, except there were about 1000 people who had also finished by that point. The line was massive. Stood in it for far too long and finally bailed to go get bag. That was beyond a disaster. It was pretty clear I’d be waiting over an hour if I wanted my bag back (decided I most definitely did not) and went to go get in the massive shuttle line.
Overall, good race, fast time (fastest this year so far) and love Revel productions. BTW, I paid the extra to have my bib mailed to me to make sure I didn’t have to worry about delayed flights and the expo, it was worth it, came more than a week early and had everything in it. Also, this year included a new chip of some sort that actually gave you splits on your Revel download. Pretty cool.
Beautiful, but hold back!
First downhill and it ate me alive! Rolling hills through the first 9 miles or so and the second half is a steep downhill. By mile 16 my quads were … MORE
First downhill and it ate me alive! Rolling hills through the first 9 miles or so and the second half is a steep downhill. By mile 16 my quads were trashed. Holding back is key in this race bc it feels so easy!!! The mountain is fantastic and weather was great!
Beuatiful fast downhill
Just get past mile 9 and then be ready to go go go. It's a perfect downhill grade after those rolling hills of 1-9 miles. Revel puts on great races … MORE
Just get past mile 9 and then be ready to go go go. It’s a perfect downhill grade after those rolling hills of 1-9 miles. Revel puts on great races – you will not be disappointed
Easy Down Hill
Probably the best of the Revel races. Weather in SoCal in Nov can't be beat on average. Chilly at the start, but warms up as you get to the bottom. … MORE
Probably the best of the Revel races. Weather in SoCal in Nov can’t be beat on average. Chilly at the start, but warms up as you get to the bottom. Lots of throwaways along the route. You have to be patient with this course. The first 8 miles is kind of tough as it’s not a lot of downhill with a few rollers. But then it’s wheeeee all the way to the finish. Be careful to pace yourself as one can overdo the downhill and cramp up.
Excellent course
This was my fastest since 2019 and I loved this course. You need to be on a bus between 4 and 4:45 AM (ooph). The course starts in a little … MORE
This was my fastest since 2019 and I loved this course. You need to be on a bus between 4 and 4:45 AM (ooph). The course starts in a little village called Forest Falls on the state route that goes to Big Bear Lake. It was supposed to be cold and rainy and thankfully, it was neither (sadly, I was dressed for both). The start line had tons of portalets which was nice. The race literally is a straight line down the canyon with no turns other than road serpentines (be smart, run tangents!!). The grade is not outrageous so you aren’t trashing your legs but it is a definite downhill (I think the total elevation loss was close to 3100 ft!). Plenty of water stations with a surprising number of bathrooms available at those. The only turn was at mile 12 when you’re coming into the finish. This was a flat-ish segment which challenges you mentally after the downhill, and then you are at the finish line which as all Revel races are, has amazing support and food and cool clothes to wipe your face with. Weather was perfect, overcast and 40-50. Buses take you back to the parking area (which was huge with plenty of spaces to avoid stress at o dark thirty). Loved this one, hope to do it again.
Definitely Worth the trip!
This is definitely a race you can PR and/or BQ. It is Downhill for most of the course. Plenty of aid stations, well organized event from expo, to buses, parking, … MORE
This is definitely a race you can PR and/or BQ. It is Downhill for most of the course. Plenty of aid stations, well organized event from expo, to buses, parking, post race shuttles. The only thing missing, for me, was live music at the finish area. Water stations every 2 miles. I bring my own Gels, but plenty of GU being handed out along with fruit. The Mountain scenery so amazing you will be tempted to take pictures all along the course, especially as the sun rises. The Expo was small, but it had everything relevant to a marathon that you may have forgotten if traveling. This was my first Revel race, I will be going to more. If this is how efficiently all their events are, I can’t wait for the next one.
Perfect running weather
The Revelers is a very fine group, really. However, this race and I have done 9 of their races ranked way down the list. The buss pick up was a … MORE
The Revelers is a very fine group, really. However, this race and I have done 9 of their races ranked way down the list. The buss pick up was a mess. The location for pick up, no signs, no people, nothing was there. The delegated people showed up very late. A parking attendant not associated with the race helped out. Runners were so mixed up. So the race started late. Also no bathrooms on the lot, also a big problem. A total mess. The course is a nice course, not the fastest Revelers but good. Not a lot of locals out. Aid stations are just water and electrolytes so bring your own snacks. Weather war great and finish was great and very well organized.
Love this race!
I love REVEL races, and this one stood out as both fast and scenic. The course offers all the downhill your legs can handle, making it perfect for chasing a … MORE
I love REVEL races, and this one stood out as both fast and scenic. The course offers all the downhill your legs can handle, making it perfect for chasing a PR. Compared to other REVEL races I’ve done, this one had more scenic views, adding to the overall experience. As always, the swag was top-notch, with a high-quality shirt and medal that made the race even more rewarding. A fantastic event all around!
BQ'd by over 24 mins!
I ran 2022 Big Bear and BQ’d by over 24 minutes. Loved this course because the rolling hills at the beginning kept my pace conservative and left alot of energy … MORE
I ran 2022 Big Bear and BQ’d by over 24 minutes. Loved this course because the rolling hills at the beginning kept my pace conservative and left alot of energy for all the downhill after mile 9. You must, I think, do downhill specific training to do well. I saw a fair number of people walking after they had trashed their quads streaking down the mountain. The key to my success was that I signed up for the Revel training program with Coach Paul, which is designed to the demands of a Revel race and emphasizes both strength and leg turnover. The speed workouts are honestly a lot of fun and I’ve continued using them to train for Boston. I’ve never felt more prepared for a race than after following this plan, and I’ve tried them all: Hansons, Pfitzinger, McMillan, etc. I had zero quad soreness after my race b/c I ‘d done so much downhill prep. Also be sure to check out Coach Paul’s videos on the Revel FB page. He gives in-depth course strategies for each Revel race full of super useful info. If you want to snag a BQ, Big Bear can be lightning-fast but really train for the specific challenges of this course.
Amazing Race again
This is my 4th running of the Revel Big Bear Marathon. There was a snowstorm just days before the race but the road was perfectly cleared, It was a cold … MORE
This is my 4th running of the Revel Big Bear Marathon. There was a snowstorm just days before the race but the road was perfectly cleared, It was a cold start as the first 11 miles were all above the snowline. The first 9 miles have some hills and you need to pace yourself for a negative split. From miles 13-22 it’s a great downhill run and you make up anything you lost in the first 9 miles. I think the Revel Team puts on some the best run events of any I have run. I’ll be back again next year. I’m already signed up.
Beautiful!
Beautiful course!!! I went out WAY too fast, it being my first Revel, and paid for it in the later miles. Still a PR by 4 minutes, but hopefully next … MORE
Beautiful course!!! I went out WAY too fast, it being my first Revel, and paid for it in the later miles. Still a PR by 4 minutes, but hopefully next time I can figure this out. Gorgeous scenery!
BQ / PR Race
Everyone knows that the Revel races are a great chance to BQ if you can manage the downhill. I PR's by almost 8 min from my last real marathon try … MORE
Everyone knows that the Revel races are a great chance to BQ if you can manage the downhill. I PR’s by almost 8 min from my last real marathon try 11 years ago and got my BQ time. It is important to train for the downhills through practice and strength work. This course is rolling through the first 8 miles which really helps keep your pace in check. GO SLOW – you will make it up. I was 10 min faster on the 2nd half even with struggling the last few miles. Miles 9-20 is the meat of the downhill where you drop almost 3000′ especially miles 14-20. The last part of the course says it is a gradual downhill and maybe it is but not what you just experienced so it felt almost flat to me. I was not able to pick up any more speed just fight to maintain. The race was well run and the expo was really good with lots of cute, fun race gear to buy. The medal and shirt were fine but nothing exciting. I definitely recommend the race and series and with a few little tweaks, it would off the charts awesome!
Unexpected PR!
This course is mostly downhill which practically promises a fast finish. The weather was unusually warm for this time of year and he predicted high temps for the early morning … MORE
This course is mostly downhill which practically promises a fast finish. The weather was unusually warm for this time of year and he predicted high temps for the early morning were a concern. However, the weather ended up not being a factor for me on this particular day. I used the REVEL app to guide me through this race. The app offered real-time feedback regarding your pace and guidance on approaching hills, fast downhill sections, and aid stations. After I completed each mile, the predicted finish time announcement continued to motivate me to keep my pace up. I never thought it would be possible for me to have a sub-4 finish. On this day I accomplished the impossible.
PR Potential!!
Revel specializes in downhill races and they've been doing it for a while so things will run smoothly. You get on a bus in the wee hours of the morning … MORE
Revel specializes in downhill races and they’ve been doing it for a while so things will run smoothly. You get on a bus in the wee hours of the morning and ride to the start where it can get cold and you have to wait for a while, but they’ll have food, drinks, plenty of portable toilets and they provide you with gloves and mylar blankets at packet pick up to use race morning until you warm up. Course has plenty of aid stations/toilets and they provide free race photos from the start to the finish! The shirts are designed well and you’ve got options to pay extra for a different kind of your liking (tanks, long sleeves, etc). Medals are heavy duty. Expo and finish line festivities do not disappoint and this course in particular definitely has PR potential for the half.
Another fast BQ course
It was super cold at the start since it snowed about 3 days before the race in the area. There were some ice patches you had to be aware of. … MORE
It was super cold at the start since it snowed about 3 days before the race in the area. There were some ice patches you had to be aware of. Great Revel race – Do IT!
Lots of downhill, but some uphill too
It's a Revel race, so you expect lots of downhill to give you a push and get a PR or a BQ. What you need to expect at this one … MORE
It’s a Revel race, so you expect lots of downhill to give you a push and get a PR or a BQ. What you need to expect at this one is the little uphill portions during the first 9 miles. You’re still at elevation there, so be ready for the challenge. Another good thing about Revel races is that they do an excellent job in so many ways. Little surprise extras with swag, great post-race food and drink, and a super-organized drop bag pickup with no waiting or searching.
Oh, and about that BQ…yes, I got it. Fastest I’ve run in almost 4 years.
Not Big Bear, but still Big Fun!
If you read my reviews of this race from 2018 and 2019, you know all about my misadventures with staying in Big Bear and taking the shuttle down the mountain … MORE
If you read my reviews of this race from 2018 and 2019, you know all about my misadventures with staying in Big Bear and taking the shuttle down the mountain to the start. In short: don’t do it. It is not worth the frustration.
This year, I took the (free) shuttle from Redlands up the mountain to the start. This alone greatly improved my experience with this event. I was on the first shuttle going up the mountain. When I arrived, I had plenty of time to use the portapotties, stretch, eat my breakfast and socialize with friends. In previous years, the bus from Big Bear got me to the race start with BARELY enough time to use a portapotty… forget trying to stretch or find friends. Due to this alone, I had a much better time running this race than previous years.
Although we were given mylar blankets and gloves at packet pick-up, extras were available at the race start. Although it wasn’t as cold as previous years, this was greatly appreciated by many runners.
Because I ran the LA Marathon only 6 days prior, my original plan was to take it at an easy/moderate pace. But because I felt good and I am familiar with the course, I ended up pushing my pace. Much to my surprise, I ended up PRing. My previous half marathon PR is from 6 years ago this month, so this was a big deal for me.
My usual disclaimers when it comes to Revel Big Bear — it does not run in or near Big Bear. It should be called Revel Redlands. The people I was sitting with on the shuttle going up the mountain thought we were going to Big Bear. They were disappointed when I showed them on my phone where we were actually going. The half is the least scenic Revel race I have run. All of the beautiful photos you see from this race are in the first half of the full. The scenery in the half is rather dull. With my usual warnings now out of the way, it is a fun event.
Unlike previous years, I got to hang out at the finish line and cheer my friends in who were running the full. I am normally in a rush to catch the shuttle going back up to Big Bear, which only runs once an hour. The regular shuttles going to the parking in Redlands depart much more frequently (and it is a much shorter trip).
Finish line refreshments included water, Bodyarmor sports drink, chocolate milk, pizza, cookies and Hangar 24 beer. They also had the usual towels soaked in ice water, which were very welcome on such a warm day.
Every year, Revel includes a nice gift branded with the Revel logo. In 2016, it was a cold weather beanie. In 2018, it was a hat. In 2019 it was Goodr glasses. This year it was a nice quality insulated cup with lid.
While I did not like this race the first two times I ran it, I have a high opinion of Revel events in general. Taking the bus up the mountain from Redlands instead of down the mountain from Big Bear has greatly improved my overall experience with this particular event. I look forward to continuing my legacy status and running it again 2022.
Best course to PR
Very well organized race and best course to PR on both half marathon and marathon. Just need to have a plan on how to run it accordingly - Coach Paul … MORE
Very well organized race and best course to PR on both half marathon and marathon. Just need to have a plan on how to run it accordingly – Coach Paul strategy in the Revel FB page is the best. Run the first 9 miles of rolling hills at comfortable pace, then comes all downhill for the remaining of the marathon course when the pace should be pushed. Starting too hard on the first miles will cost you on the last 10k for sure. Out of my 38 life marathons, best 3 times are on this race, every year I ran it. Just plan for a longer recovery after the race. This race does take its toll on the quads for sure, especially if one is not paying attention to execute it with a high cadence with short strides.